Aquatic Exercise Cycle

ABSTRACT

An underwater exercise cycle that improves on existing designs through the use of a compact flywheel transmission with adjustable resistance. The invention allows for smooth and continuous pedaling across a range of distinct levels of resistance, thereby enhancing comfort, low-impact, and effectiveness of aquatic exercise.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/001,290, filed May 21, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an underwater (aquatic) exercise cycle with an improved transmission that provides either fixed or adjustable smooth pedal resistance, that is not dependant on water resistance like common aquatic exercise cycles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Underwater cycling is becoming more popular as a tool for exercise and rehabilitation. The benefits of underwater workouts are well known and can be less stressful alternatives to traditional workouts. People may be averse to traditional workout methods due to age, joint problems, or mobility issues. While swimming in water is known to be a great low-impact exercise, not everyone can swim. Therefore, riding an exercise cycle in a pool is an excellent alternative because one can receive workout/rehabilitation benefits, but with the lower stress of moving in water. Health care providers often recommend aquatic physical therapy because it allows one to move more freely with decreased pain. Water has a therapeutic effect on muscles allowing them to relax and increase flexibility. Also warm water increases blood flow, which enables faster healing.

Existing underwater exercise cycles use water resistance. While water resistance may be effective in achieving a desired workout, variations of resistance is limited.

Additionally, water resistance can cause less smooth pedaling due to a lack of a flywheel/inertia, which is undesirable for the goal of lowering any impact involved in the exercise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an easy to use underwater exercise cycle that incorporates a flywheel transmission with either fixed tension, or with manual tensioning means to provide for improved underwater exercise/rehabilitation that allows the user to experience smoother and more continuous rotation with multiple distinct levels of resistance.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a foldable cycle frame with a an adjustable seat, handlebars, pedals attached to a drive gear affixed to a drive shaft, a flywheel having an integrated gear that rotates independently on the same drive shaft, a separate secondary gear having two gears of different diameters attached to a second shaft, which is parallel to the drive shaft, in which the smaller secondary gear meshes with the drive gear and the larger secondary gear meshes with the flywheel gear to obtain a fixed ratio of pedal rotation to flywheel rotation, and further comprising a flywheel tensioning means that allows the user to easily and quickly select various levels of pedal effort while in motion.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises an underwater exercise cycle using a compact flywheel transmission with fixed resistance.

Yet another embodiment of the invention comprises a semi-recumbent attachment that provides side handlebars and a backrest, which allows the user to sit upright with the back supported.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing a foldable bike frame with a direct gear flywheel transmission with a tensioning means to adjust frictional forces applied to the flywheel. FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of the flywheel transmission and tensioning means. FIG. 3 shows a “semi-recumbent” version of the cycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An aquatic exercise cycle, transmission and tensioning means are shown generally in FIGS. 1 and 2. The aquatic exercise cycle comprises a stainless steel folding frame 1, 2 including an adjustable seat 3, a handlebar 4, a crank and gear multiplier 5, 6, an energy storage device in the form of a flywheel 7, a resistance system 8 with a resistance adjustment mechanism 9, and with integrated wheels for transportation 10. Alternatively, the folding frame 1, 2 could be made from plastic, composite or any other suitable material for an aquatic environment. Additionally, the handlebar 4, could be made adjustable. The gear multiplier 6 is made from multiple plastic and corrosion-resistant metal components such, which are compatible with the aquatic environment. Alternatively the gear multiplier 6 could be made from multiple ceramic, composite or other components of suitable materials. The resistance system 8 incorporates a belt and tensioners to mechanically adjust the level of resistance at the crank. The resistance is adjustable through multiple discreet settings, selected with the tension-adjustment knob 11.

The crank and gear multiplier 5, 6 comprises a stainless steel drive shaft 12 rigidly connected to the main gear 13, which drives the secondary gear 14, which rotates on its own secondary shaft 15. The secondary gear 14 comprises two integrated gears of different diameters 16, 17; the smaller gear 17 driven by the main gear 13 turns the larger secondary gear 16. The larger secondary gear 16 drives a small gear integrated to the flywheel 7, driving (spinning) the flywheel at a fixed ratio. The flywheel and integrated gear 7 spin freely on the drive shaft 12.

The resistance system 8 comprises a tension belt 18, a fixed tension pulley 19, a floating tension pulley 20, a tension bar 21, a tension adjustment rod 22 and a tension adjustment sleeve 23. The tension belt 18 fits in a groove in the flywheel 7 and also over grooves in the fixed 19 and floating 20 tension pulleys. The floating tension pulley 20 is connected to the tension bar 21. The fixed tension pulley 19 rotates on a shaft connected to the main frame 2. Alternatively, the tension pulleys 19, 20 could be both fixed or floating. The tension bar 21 slides up-down through the tension adjustment sleeve 23, which is rigidly attached to the main frame 2. The tension adjustment rod 22 rigidly connects the tension bar 21 to the tension adjust knob 11. Alternatively, the tension adjustment rod 22, could be made from a flexible cable, instead of a rigid component. Turning the tension adjust knob 11 pulls on the tension adjust rod 22, which pulls on the tension bar 21, which in turn pulls the floating tension pulley 20 up and increases the tension on the tension belt 18. The resistance adjustment mechanism 9 consists of a tension-adjust rod 22, an upper 24 and lower 25 housing, an index-ring 26, an outer 27 and inner 28 hub, two (2) compression springs 29, two (2) steel balls 30, and a shaft 31. The tension-adjust rod 22 connects to the tension-adjust inner hub 28. The inner hub 28 turns with the outer-hub 27. The outer-hub 27 has a shaft with square-flat sides, which couple to the tension-adjust knob 11 and the index-ring 26. The upper-housing 24 has two holes for the tension-adjust springs 29 and the steel balls 30. The index-ring 26 sits on top of the spring-compressed steel balls 30 and has a series of hole-perforations which the steel balls 30 engage, resulting in discreet tension settings. Alternatively, the steel balls 30 could be made from plastic, ceramic, or other suitable material and the number of balls (2) could be less or more, depending on what is required to sufficiently keep the tension-adjust knob in its set position. When the tension-adjust knob 11 is rotated it rotates the index-ring 26, the outer-hub 27 and the inner-hub 28. As the inner-hub rotates it pulls on the tension-adjust rod 22 increasing tension on the tension-belt 18. The index-ring 26 rotates until the steel balls 30 fit into the next hole-perforation, held in place by the force of the tension-adjust springs 29 for each tension setting. The rotating parts rotate on the tension-adjust shaft 31. The tension-adjust shaft 31 has a shaped, splined or tapered end that fits into the lower tension-adjust housing 25 preventing the shaft from rotating.

FIG. 3 shows a “semi-recumbent” version of the aquatic exercise cycle. This option includes side-side handlebars 32 and a backrest 33. This optional assembly converts the conventional-styled aquatic exercise cycle from a conventional to a semi-recumbent style.

The present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, however those skilled in the art may recognize that changes may be made without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Further the flywheel transmission and tensioner may be used by other exercise devices such as treadmills, elliptical trainers, etc. 

We claim:
 1. An aquatic exercise cycle comprising: a stationary cycle frame; an adjustable seat post; a seat; handlebars; pedals mounted to the frame for rotation of a transmission; a flywheel transmission coupled to the pedals; and a flywheel tensioning means.
 2. The aquatic exercise cycle according to claim 1, wherein the flywheel tensioning means provides variable pedal resistance;
 3. The aquatic exercise cycle according to claim 1, wherein the flywheel transmission comprises: a drive shaft rigidly connected to a main gear; a second shaft parallel to the drive shaft; a secondary gear rigidly connected to the second shaft, comprising of two integrated gears of different diameters; a flywheel with an integrated gear that is freely mounted on the drive shaft to allow rotation independently from the main gear; wherein the smaller gear of the secondary gear meshes with the main gear on the drive shaft and the larger gear of the secondary gear meshes with the flywheel gear.
 4. The aquatic exercise cycle according to claim 2 wherein the tensioning means comprises: a tension belt for placement around the flywheel; a floating tension pulley positioned between the tension belt and the flywheel; a tension bar with a first and second end and placed within a tension adjustment sleeve rigidly fixed to the cycle frame, said first end connected to the floating tension pulley; a tension adjustment rod connected to the second end of the tension bar linking it to tension adjustment knob rigidly mounted to the cycle frame; whereby the tension adjustment knob is used to pull or push the floating tension pulley thereby adjusting the tension of the belt around the flywheel.
 5. The aquatic exercise cycle according to claim 4, wherein the tension adjustment knob utilizes a detent mechanism to allow multiple preset levels of tension with less than ⅓ of a revolution of the tension adjustment knob.
 6. The aquatic exercise cycle according to claim 4, wherein the flywheel contains a groove to hold the tensioning belt in position.
 7. The aquatic exercise cycle according to claim 6, further comprising a fixed tension pulley attached to the frame and placed between the tension belt and the flywheel, in conjunction with the floating pulley.
 8. The aquatic exercise cycle according to claim 1, wherein the flywheel tensioning means utilizes one or more fixed tension pulleys; a tension belt for placement around the fixed tension pulley(s) and the flywheel, whereby the flywheel transmission provides fixed pedal resistance.
 9. The aquatic exercise cycle according to claim 8, wherein the flywheel contains a groove to hold the tensioning belt in position.
 10. The aquatic exercise cycle according to claim 1, wherein the cycle frame is foldable.
 11. The aquatic exercise cycle according to claim 1, wherein side handlebars and a back rest are rigidly attached to the adjustable seat post, which allows users to sit upright with their legs out in front of them. 